Buckle.



W. E. MORELAND.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21.1917- Patented July 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET l.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES W. E. MORELAND.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21. 19H.

Patented July 9, 1918'.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR WEJZWZZQM ATTORN EY 'WILLIAM E. MORELAND, OF UNION CITY, GEORGIA.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed April 21, 1917. Serial No. 163,648.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM E. Mona- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Campbell and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles or strap fastening devices and comprehends the provision of a buckle having a main frame, a pivot bar extending across said frame and a substantially U shaped member pivotally connected tothe pivot bar and adapted to clamp a strap or other flexible member against one end of the main frame.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a buckle, capable of various modifications, which may be cheaply manufactured, which is very eflicient and which may be easily'operated.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve buckles of this nature to render them more practical, useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the use of. my improved buckle as a strap fastening device to secure a number of books together.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the buckle detached from the strap.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the buckle connecting two end portions of a strap.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the plane of line H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified or double buckle showing the same in use, and.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the modified buckle detached from its strap.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates as an entirety the main frame having side bars 2, 3 and end bars 4:, 5. The side bar 3 is formed in two sections and the longer section is extended transversely of the frame and secured to the side bar 2 thus providing a pivot bar 6. The short section of the bar 3 is attached to the long section by being twisted about the pivot bar adjacent to the long section.

The end bar 5 acts in the capacity of a binding or resistance element and cotiperates with a clamping frame 7 to bind against a strap or other flexible member; The clamping member 7 is substantially U shaped having the central clamping or binding bar 8 and the arms 9 which are pivotally connected at their terminals to the pivot bar 6 by being twisted thereabout. Theclamping bar 8 is somewhat longer than the width of the main frame, thus preventingthe clamping member swinging through the frame.

The arms 9 are bent inwardly across the side bars of-the main frame and are then extended substantially parallel to each otherto their points of connection with the pivot bar. This construction gives to the clamping member a four point contact with the main frame and therefore it is able to resist most any strain which may be placed upon it by the strap 10.

For the purpose of manipulating the clamping frame so as to easily release it from clamping engagement with the strap 10, I' provide a bail or handle 11' which is pivotally secured at its ends to the clamping bar 8 by being bent thereabout as shown.

In using this buckle as a fastening device for a book strap, one end of the strap is permanently secured to the end bar 4 of the main frame and the strap may be clamped about a pile of books by passing the same around the books through the frame 4 around the clamping bar 8 and under the binding bar 5. The slack may be taken up by pulling on the end of the strap and the strap is prevented from loosening by the clamping action exerted thereon by the bars 5 and 8. When it is desired to loosen the strap, it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the bail or handle 11 which will swing the clamping member away from the resistance bar 5.

In Fig. 5 I have shown what may be termed a double buckle including a pair of rectangular frames 12 and 13 which are secured together at right angles to each other and to one side of their transverse centers. The frame 12 comprises side bars 14:, 15 and end bars 16, 17 and the frame 13 comprises side bars 18, 19 and end bars 20, 21. The side bar 19 of the frame 13 forms a pivot bar for the frame 12 and a substantially U shaped clamping member 22 is piv- I the frame 13.

In -;-using this double buckle, a belt or other flexible member 25 ist'secured to one of the rectangular frames as shown, and .is preferably passed around thexobject to be strappedthrouglrthe-other end of the frame to which it-is connected over the clam-ping bar 24 and back throughthev frameas shown. A-right angular turn is then made by passingzthe strap over the bar 18 and under the bar 16. The strap is'next carried around the object-to be strapped and passed through theframe 12, around the clamping bar 23 and back through ,the frame as shown. Slaclcmay be taken up, by pulling on the free end of the strap. Each of-the clamping members is provided with a bail or handle'26 :to facilitate the-release of the. strap. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be mfrdcntthat I have provided a very snnple and practical buckle which i may be used in various ways and which will securely clamp onto a flexible member such as a .strap.

WVhil e I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be clearly understood that I do notwish to be limited to this construction but may make such changes as will fall within the scope andspirit of the invention as claimed.

.What I claim. is:

pivot bar extending transversely across and secured to said main frame, a 'U-shaped clamping member having the ends of its arms pivotally secured to the pivot bar be tween the side; bars. of. the main frame, the base of the U-sha-ped clamping-member extending transversely across and :beyond'the side bars of the main frame adjacent theopposite end .of said frameto define. a

clamping bar, inwardly extendingportions connecting the extremity. of the clamp ng bar with the arms of the clamping member to provide additional bearing against the main frame and a ball; secured tothe-clamp ing bar at a point beyondthe side bars of the main frame.

.In testimonywhereof Iaffix my signature.

WVILLIAM EL MORELAND.

. Copies."ofwthisepatentn ay.-beobta.ined 1or five; cents each, ,by addressing the.iqqmn isstoner qgiatents,

Washington, D. C.

l A. buckle comprising amam frame, a 

